Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Construction Aggregate shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Construction Aggregate offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Construction Aggregate at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Construction Aggregate? Wrong! If the Construction Aggregate is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Construction Aggregate then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Construction Aggregate? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Construction Aggregate and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Construction Aggregate wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Construction Aggregate then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Construction Aggregate site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Construction Aggregate, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Construction Aggregate, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
Construction aggregate, or simply "
aggregate (composite)", is a broad category of coarse particulate
material used in construction, including
sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, and recycled concrete. Aggregates are a component of
composite materials such as
concrete and
asphalt concrete; the aggregate serves as reinforcement to add strength to the overall composite material. Aggregates are also used as base material under foundations, roads, and railroads. To put it another way, aggregates are used as a stable foundation or road/rail base with predictable, uniform properties (e.g. to help prevent differential settling under the road or building), or as a low-cost extender that binds with more expensive cement or asphalt to form concrete.
The American Society for Testing and Materials publishes an exhaustive listing of specifications for various construction aggregate products, which, by their individual design, are suitable for specific construction purposes. These products include specific types of coarse and fine aggregate designed for such uses as additives to asphalt and concrete mixes, as well as other construction uses. State transportation departments further refine aggregate material specifications in order to tailor aggregate use to the needs and available supply in their particular locations.
Sources for these basic materials can be grouped into three main areas: Mining of mineral aggregate deposits, including sand, gravel, and stone; use of waste slag from the manufacture of iron and steel; and recycling of concrete, which is itself chiefly manufactured from mineral aggregates. In addition, there are some (minor) materials that are used as specialty lightweight aggregates:
clay, pumice,
perlite, and
vermiculite.
History
Mankind has used sand and stone for foundations for thousands of years. Significant refinement of the production and use of aggregate occurred during the Roman Empire, which used aggregate to build its vast network of roads and aqueducts. The invention of concrete, which was essential to architecture utilizing arches, created an immediate, permanent demand for construction aggregates.--
Modern production
The advent of modern blasting methods enabled the development of quarry, which are now used throughout the world, wherever competent bedrock deposits of aggregate quality exist. In many places, good
limestone,
granite, marble or other quality stone bedrock deposits do not exist. In these areas, natural sand and gravel are mining for use as aggregate. Where neither stone, nor sand and gravel, are available, construction demand is usually satisfied by shipping in aggregate by rail,
barge or
truck. Additionally, demand for aggregates can be partially satisfied through the use of slag and recycled
concrete. However, the available tonnages and lesser quality of these materials prevent them from being a viable replacement for mined aggregates on a large scale.
Large stone quarry and sand and gravel operations exist near virtually all population centers. These are Capital (economics)-intensive operations, utilizing large earth-moving equipment, belt conveyors, and machines specifically designed for crushing and separating various sizes of aggregate, to create distinct product stockpiles.
Aggregate is needed for any kind of construction. Mineral aggregates will be used in ever-increasing quantities as long as economies remain stable. Roads, including these used to transport aggregate, require continual maintenance and rebuilding. Homes, offices, warehouses, shopping centers, and workplaces all require foundations composed of aggregate, as well as concrete footers, asphalt
parking lots, manufactured
bricks, blocks and poured walls. Corporations which specialize in mining and processing aggregates are likely to grow and consolidate. In fact, the purchase of small aggregate companies by large, global corporations is the dominant trend in the industry. As less-developed countries build their infrastructure, the worldwide demand for construction aggregates will continue to grow. This demand will increasingly be met by global aggregate companies such as Hanson Aggregates, Polaris Minerals,
Martin Marietta, Vulcan Materials Company,
Lafarge, Oldcastle, Cemex, Samscreen and Perforated Screen Surfaces, Inc (PSSI).
According to the
USGS, 2005 U.S. crushed stone production was 1.69 billion tonnes valued at $12.1 billion, of which limestone was 1,090 million tonnes valued at $7.49 billion from 1,904 quarries, granite was 263 million tonnes valued at $2.16 billion from 339 quarries, traprock was 130 million tonnes valued at $1.04 billion from 348 quarries, and the balance other kinds of stone from 597 quarries. Limestone and granite are also produced in large amounts as dimension stone. The great majority of the crushed stone moved by heavy truck from the quarry/plant to the first point of sale or use. According to the USGS, 2005 U.S. sand and gravel production was 1.27 billion tonnes valued at $7.46 billion, of which 294 million tonnes valued at $1.98 billion was used as concrete aggregates. The great majority of this was again moved by truck, instead of by electric train.
Currently, total U.S. aggregate demand by final market sector was 30%-35% for non-residential building (offices, hotels, stores, manufacturing plants, government and institutional buildings, and others), 25% for highways, and 25% for housing.
Recycled materials for aggregates
The largest-volume recycled material used as construction aggregate is
blast furnace and steel furnace slag. Blast furnace slag is either air-cooled (slow cooling in the open) or granulated (formed by quenching molten slag in water to form sand-sized glasslike particles). If the granulated blast furnace slag accesses free lime during hydration, it develops strong hydraulic cementitious properties and can partly substitute for
portland cement in concrete. Steel furnace slag is also air-cooled. In 2005, according to the USGS, air-cooled blast furnace slag sold or used in the U.S. was 8.4 million tonnes valued at $56 million, granulated blast furnace slag sold or used in the U.S. was 4.5 million tonnes valued at $277 million, and steel furnace slag sold or used in the U.S. was 8.7 million tonnes valued at $39 million. Air-cooled blast furnace slag sales were for use in road bases and surfaces (34%), asphaltic concrete (17%), ready-mixed concrete (16%), and the balance for other uses. Granulated blast furnace slag sales were for use in cementitious materials (91%), and the balance for other uses. Steel furnace slag sales were for use in road bases and surfaces (53%), asphaltic concrete (16%), for fill (11%), and the balance for other uses.
Aggregates themselves can be recycled as aggregates. Unlike deposits of sand and gravel or stone suitable for crushing into aggregate, which can be anywhere and may require overburden removal and/or blasting, "deposits" of recyclable aggregate tend to be concentrated near urban areas, and production from them cannot be raised or lowered to meet demand for aggregates. Supply of recycled aggregate depends on physical decay of structures and their demolition. The recycling plant can be fixed or mobile; the smaller capacity mobile plant works best for asphalt-aggregate recycling. The material being recycled is usually highly variable in quality and properties.
According to the USGS in 2005, 3.9 million tonnes of portland cement concrete (including aggregate) worth $29.4 million was recycled, and 1.9 million tonnes of asphalt concrete (including aggregate) worth $17.7 million was recycled, both by crushed stone operations. Much much more of both materials are recycled by construction and demolition firms not in the USGS survey. For sand and gravel, the USGS survey for 2005 showed that 4.6 million tonnes of cement concrete valued at $27.0 million was recycled, and 3.75 million tonnes of asphalt concrete valued at $23.7 million was recycled. Again, much much more of both materials are recycled by construction and demolition firms not in this USGS survey. The Construction Materials Recycling Association indicates that there are 325 million tonnes of recoverable construction and demolition materials produced annually.
See also
References
- Samscreen International
- The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
- The American Society for Testing Materials
- Gravel Watch Ontario
- Oregon Concrete & Aggregate Producers Association
- Portland Cement Association
- USGS Minerals Yearbook: Stone, Crushed
- USGS Minerals Yearbook: Construction Sand and Gravel
- Construction Aggregate, in June 2007 Mining Engineering (private membership)
- USGS Minerals Yearbook: Iron & Steel Slag
- Aggregates from Natural and Recycled Sources-Economic Assessments
- Construction Materials Recycling Association
Construction aggregate, or simply "
aggregate (composite)", is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone,
slag, and recycled concrete. Aggregates are a component of composite materials such as concrete and
asphalt concrete; the aggregate serves as reinforcement to add strength to the overall composite material. Aggregates are also used as base material under foundations, roads, and railroads. To put it another way, aggregates are used as a stable foundation or road/rail base with predictable, uniform properties (e.g. to help prevent differential settling under the road or building), or as a low-cost extender that binds with more expensive cement or asphalt to form concrete.
The
American Society for Testing and Materials publishes an exhaustive listing of specifications for various construction aggregate products, which, by their individual design, are suitable for specific construction purposes. These products include specific types of coarse and fine aggregate designed for such uses as additives to asphalt and concrete mixes, as well as other construction uses. State transportation departments further refine aggregate material specifications in order to tailor aggregate use to the needs and available supply in their particular locations.
Sources for these basic materials can be grouped into three main areas: Mining of mineral aggregate deposits, including sand, gravel, and stone; use of waste slag from the manufacture of iron and steel; and recycling of concrete, which is itself chiefly manufactured from mineral aggregates. In addition, there are some (minor) materials that are used as specialty lightweight aggregates:
clay, pumice, perlite, and
vermiculite.
History
Mankind has used sand and stone for foundations for thousands of years. Significant refinement of the production and use of aggregate occurred during the Roman Empire, which used aggregate to build its vast network of roads and aqueducts. The invention of concrete, which was essential to architecture utilizing arches, created an immediate, permanent demand for construction aggregates.--
Modern production
The advent of modern blasting methods enabled the development of
quarry, which are now used throughout the world, wherever competent bedrock deposits of aggregate quality exist. In many places, good
limestone,
granite,
marble or other quality stone bedrock deposits do not exist. In these areas, natural sand and gravel are
mining for use as aggregate. Where neither stone, nor sand and gravel, are available, construction demand is usually satisfied by shipping in aggregate by rail, barge or
truck. Additionally, demand for aggregates can be partially satisfied through the use of slag and recycled concrete. However, the available tonnages and lesser quality of these materials prevent them from being a viable replacement for mined aggregates on a large scale.
Large stone quarry and sand and gravel operations exist near virtually all population centers. These are Capital (economics)-intensive operations, utilizing large earth-moving equipment, belt conveyors, and machines specifically designed for crushing and separating various sizes of aggregate, to create distinct product stockpiles.
Aggregate is needed for any kind of construction. Mineral aggregates will be used in ever-increasing quantities as long as economies remain stable. Roads, including these used to transport aggregate, require continual maintenance and rebuilding. Homes, offices, warehouses, shopping centers, and workplaces all require foundations composed of aggregate, as well as concrete footers, asphalt
parking lots, manufactured bricks, blocks and poured walls. Corporations which specialize in mining and processing aggregates are likely to grow and consolidate. In fact, the purchase of small aggregate companies by large, global corporations is the dominant trend in the industry. As less-developed countries build their infrastructure, the worldwide demand for construction aggregates will continue to grow. This demand will increasingly be met by global aggregate companies such as Hanson Aggregates, Polaris Minerals, Martin Marietta, Vulcan Materials Company, Lafarge, Oldcastle,
Cemex, Samscreen and Perforated Screen Surfaces, Inc (PSSI).
According to the USGS, 2005 U.S. crushed stone production was 1.69 billion tonnes valued at $12.1 billion, of which limestone was 1,090 million tonnes valued at $7.49 billion from 1,904 quarries, granite was 263 million tonnes valued at $2.16 billion from 339 quarries, traprock was 130 million tonnes valued at $1.04 billion from 348 quarries, and the balance other kinds of stone from 597 quarries. Limestone and granite are also produced in large amounts as
dimension stone. The great majority of the crushed stone moved by heavy truck from the quarry/plant to the first point of sale or use. According to the USGS, 2005 U.S. sand and gravel production was 1.27 billion tonnes valued at $7.46 billion, of which 294 million tonnes valued at $1.98 billion was used as concrete aggregates. The great majority of this was again moved by truck, instead of by
electric train.
Currently, total U.S. aggregate demand by final market sector was 30%-35% for non-residential building (offices, hotels, stores, manufacturing plants, government and institutional buildings, and others), 25% for highways, and 25% for housing.
Recycled materials for aggregates
The largest-volume recycled material used as construction aggregate is
blast furnace and steel furnace slag. Blast furnace slag is either air-cooled (slow cooling in the open) or granulated (formed by quenching molten slag in water to form sand-sized glasslike particles). If the granulated blast furnace slag accesses free lime during hydration, it develops strong hydraulic cementitious properties and can partly substitute for portland cement in concrete. Steel furnace slag is also air-cooled. In 2005, according to the USGS, air-cooled blast furnace slag sold or used in the U.S. was 8.4 million tonnes valued at $56 million, granulated blast furnace slag sold or used in the U.S. was 4.5 million tonnes valued at $277 million, and steel furnace slag sold or used in the U.S. was 8.7 million tonnes valued at $39 million. Air-cooled blast furnace slag sales were for use in road bases and surfaces (34%), asphaltic concrete (17%), ready-mixed concrete (16%), and the balance for other uses. Granulated blast furnace slag sales were for use in cementitious materials (91%), and the balance for other uses. Steel furnace slag sales were for use in road bases and surfaces (53%), asphaltic concrete (16%), for
fill (11%), and the balance for other uses.
Aggregates themselves can be recycled as aggregates. Unlike deposits of sand and gravel or stone suitable for crushing into aggregate, which can be anywhere and may require overburden removal and/or blasting, "deposits" of recyclable aggregate tend to be concentrated near urban areas, and production from them cannot be raised or lowered to meet demand for aggregates. Supply of recycled aggregate depends on physical decay of structures and their demolition. The recycling plant can be fixed or mobile; the smaller capacity mobile plant works best for asphalt-aggregate recycling. The material being recycled is usually highly variable in quality and properties.
According to the USGS in 2005, 3.9 million tonnes of portland cement concrete (including aggregate) worth $29.4 million was recycled, and 1.9 million tonnes of asphalt concrete (including aggregate) worth $17.7 million was recycled, both by crushed stone operations. Much much more of both materials are recycled by construction and demolition firms not in the USGS survey. For sand and gravel, the USGS survey for 2005 showed that 4.6 million tonnes of cement concrete valued at $27.0 million was recycled, and 3.75 million tonnes of asphalt concrete valued at $23.7 million was recycled. Again, much much more of both materials are recycled by construction and demolition firms not in this USGS survey. The Construction Materials Recycling Association indicates that there are 325 million tonnes of recoverable construction and demolition materials produced annually.
See also
References
- Samscreen International
- The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
- The American Society for Testing Materials
- Gravel Watch Ontario
- Oregon Concrete & Aggregate Producers Association
- Portland Cement Association
- USGS Minerals Yearbook: Stone, Crushed
- USGS Minerals Yearbook: Construction Sand and Gravel
- Construction Aggregate, in June 2007 Mining Engineering (private membership)
- USGS Minerals Yearbook: Iron & Steel Slag
- Aggregates from Natural and Recycled Sources-Economic Assessments
- Construction Materials Recycling Association
Construction aggregate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Construction aggregate, or simply "aggregate", is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, and recycled ...
Thomas Armstrong Group, Construction Services, Concrete Blocks and ...
Suppliers of building materials for industry and the DIY market. Manufacturer of timber and concrete products. Construction and haulage divisions. Based at Flimby, near Maryport ...
Aggregate Recycling and Alternative Materials in Highway Construction
Aggregate Recycling and Alternative Materials in Highway Construction: April 1995. The purpose of this paper is to address ways in which the use of primary aggregates within ...
Aggregate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aggregate may refer to: Aggregate (composite), in materials science, a component of a composite material used to resist compressive stress; Construction aggregate, materials used ...
Welcome to Aggregate Industries UK LTD Web Site
Welcome to Aggregate Industries UK LTD Web Site ... Aggregate Industries UK is a major producer and supplier of primary, secondary and recycled construction aggregates ...
Aggregate Industries' Sustainable Products Guide promotes Best ...
April 2007 Aggregate Industries' Sustainable Products Guide promotes Best Practise in Sustainable Construction . Launched at Ecobuild 2007, Aggregate Industries’ new Sustainable ...
Bardon Construction Web Site
Welcome to Bardon Construction Web site - an Aggregate Industries Ltd business. ... Bardon Construction, an Aggregate Industries Ltd business, has a proven track record of ...
Waste Minimisation | Sector Specific Information | Construction ...
Waste Minimisation : Sector Specific Information : Construction & Demolition ... Waste Minimisation can be applied to the whole construction project chain:
pubs-2000-2006 - Grading of construction aggregate through...
Grading of construction aggregate through machine vision: results and prospects
Construction, Utilities & Aggregate Working Group
Construction, Utilities & Aggregate Working Group Are you making the most of your resources? Want to save money on disposal costs AND create new business opportunities? THEN YOU ...
